P .O. Box 5374
San Jose, CA 95150
www.lwvsjsc.org
September 11, 2023
To: Mayor Mahan, Vice Mayor Kamei, and Councilmembers Jimenez, Torres, Cohen, Ortiz, Davis, Doan, Candelas, Foley, and Batra
cc: City Clerk, Agenda Desk
Subject: Item: 6.2; File # 23-1187: San José Building Reach Code Administrative Update The League of Women Voters San Jose / Santa Clara is pleased to see the staff recommendation to readopt the majority of the City’s 2019 reach code components, with the goal of incentivizing the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
In looking at theReach Code Pathsin the California Energy Codes and Standards, we see other available reach codes, including using cool roof materials for new roofs and for re-roofing. We also see reach code paths that require actual installations (such as photovoltaic systems) rather than just focusing on readiness (such as solar-readiness). Another possible pathway is energy efficiency upgrades and appliances, when cost effective. With these different options, we’d like to understand what drives the prioritization for reach codes in San Jose.Are there additional steps that our city can be taking to help us reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions – and help us reach our carbon neutrality by 2030 goals? We understand that the adoption of the current reach codes was dependent on the recent release of cost-effectiveness studies for energy standards for new single-family, multi-family, and non-residential developments. Are there other cost-effectiveness studies that will be released soon that would allow us to adopt additional reach codes? Are all cost-effectiveness studies performed by (or for) the California Codes and Standards Reach Codes program, or are there other options for gathering cost-effectiveness information? We have visited San Jose’s Climate Smart Data Dashboard; thank you for providing this information. We would suggest that it be clearer on the San Jose Reach Code web page that the Climate Smart Data Dashboard provides metrics about the reach codes. It would also be helpful to call out metrics that are directly related to the reach codes.
On the Data Dashboard, it’s encouraging to see that our 2021 net emissions are 10% lower than our 2019 emissions. It looks like the latest information on the dashboard is from 2021, however,
and we wondered when it will be updated again. Having current information about whether we’re on track to meet our 2030 goals seems important for policy decisions.
We would also recommend that San Jose Clean Energy be asked to provide input on the proposed code in terms of shared objectives. Or, if this input has already happened, it would be great to see information about how these two departments can be mutually supported via the updated Reach Code.
We remember that San Jose has promoted that new construction earn LEED ratings, and we wondered how these two approaches – LEED and REACH – differ and are similar? Is the City still working on LEED certification for new city buildings and major retrofits? The League has strong positions on the management of natural resources and on the importance of combating climate change. We’re proud of our City’s leadership in combating climate change, and we’d like to ensure that we’re doing everything possible to meet the goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2030.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Martha Butzier
Co-President, League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara cc: Vicki Alexander
Director of Action, League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara [email protected]